New signs urging people to follow a ‘code of conduct’ are to be installed at Nailsea skatepark – after the facility was left covered in rubbish.
An old mattress, wrappers, smashed bottles and cans were found strewn across the park by the town orderly after the weekend.
The discovery comes just weeks after a community clean up of the skate park was organised following complaints about litter and graffiti at the site.
The skatepark, at Millennium Park, currently has six bins.
The town’s orderly – employed by Nailsea Town Council – visits the skate park each day to litter pick and empty the bins.
Over the weekend these were left overflowing with other rubbish being thrown on the floor.
People have described the state of the skate park as ‘disgusting’ and called for the bins to be emptied more regularly and for additional ones to be installed.
Nailsea Town Council clerk Jo Duffy said: “It is disappointing to see the skate park in such an untidy state.
“It is particularly annoying as the town orderly visits the skatepark every day during the week and empties the bins and litter picks.”
The new signs – due to go up later this month – ask users to follow a ‘code of conduct.’
This includes a request for people not to drop litter.
There is also a ban on alcohol or drugs being used in the skate park.
The two signs also ask people not to daub graffiti on the ramps and to be respectful to other users.
They also feature information on where the nearest accident and emergency department is and details of the owners of the park – the town council.
Mrs Duffy added: “Every facility such as this should have these signs and we are following ROSPA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) guidelines by having them installed.
“We have been asked, by the young people who use the skate park, for additional bins.
“This is something which is being considered and we are currently monitoring the situation.
“The majority of young people who use the skate park do so sensibly.
“However there are a few people who cannot be bothered to put their rubbish in the bin.”
The new skatepark, which was opened in the summer of 2016, was paid for following a successful campaign to raise the £116,000 needed.
The campaign saw a new concrete skatepark with ramps and equipment installed.
But over the past months the concrete structure has become a target for graffiti and vandalism.
A clean up of the skate park was organised over Easter with many of the young skaters who use the facility turning out to help.
In Portishead there has been a long running campaign to build a skate park at the Lake Grounds – described by many as the ‘jewel in North Somerset’s crown.’
But the scheme never got off the ground after despite being awarded planning permission at appeal, North Somerset Council, which own the land, refused to give landlord’s consent.
The planning permission for the skate park has since expired but among many, there is still a desire to see a facility at the beauty spot.
Currently there is a skate park at Merlin Park in Portishead.
